Door latch



J. C. IRWIN DOOR LATCH Filed Jan. 29, 1944 2'- sheetsl-sneet 1 2 i AJusus C. Inwno I J. c. IRWIN,

Oct. 29, 1946.

DOOR LATCH 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1944 Jusvv; Q. Imm

Patented Get. 29, 1946 UNITEDv STATES PATEN O`-Ii`li`l1CEV Doon LATCH- .ustusl C. Irwin,- lvii'nneapolis,` Minn., assignor to'V Wright Products, Inc., St. Paul Park, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application January 29, 1944,]Serial No. 520,235

This invention relates todoorlatches and the" main objectis-to provide a simple, eiiicient and practical type of 'latch thatk may be operated from either side of the door, and which" is particularly designed andintended'foruse in 'screen door and stormdoors wherecomparatively simple' and economicall hardware is desired;

A-'furt-her object is to provide a4 novelv latch of the bored-intype, which meansl that it is unnecessary to cutinto the edge of the'door bysaw and ehisel'methods to install'the'latch, and that it is'only necessary'to bore a holein'the door, an

operation that can' be done easilyandr quickly,'

thus greatlyshortening installationl time' while increasing the accuracy with` whichl the work' can ine-done;

lr-further Objectis to provideia bored-inltype of latch which. within predetermined limits, may be used in doors of various thicknesses,'and'which infact is -sel adjusting to doors of vany' thickness size within standard4 or conventional practices, thus eliminating the necessityy for "diierentsizes oi latches orfmeohanically adjustable features' as" has heretofore been customary.

@ther-and' moredetailed objects'will be' dis'- closedY inthe course of the following specification;

refeference being hadtothe accompanying draw'- y ings wherein- Fig; l is a horizontal section' through'a door' and door` casingY and-through my improved'latch which is-fastenedin the'door'and shown' as en' gaged-with the vkeeper plate to hold' the door closed. V

Fig. 2 is a sectionalview'similarto'Fi'g. 1,v but showingV the" latch mechanism adjusted'to open position; thisview also showing ad'ditional'parts of thedevicein section, and showing the'latc'h as applied toa thinnerconstruction' of door than in'Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspectiveyiewof thelatch unit towardand away from a'stopeFandla'keeperCv` which keeper is disposedto bereleasably engaged by the latch to hold the door closed."

The'latch proper comprises an inner escutcheon plate 5, mountedupon Vthe inner surfacer of Vthe door. and' is securedl thereto' by 'suitable' screws 6.

portion "of This'plate surrounds the boreB'an'd has' inwardly projected flanges or arcuate lips 'I" and8"which' t'snugly into' one' end of the bore, it being 'under'- stoodthat these' lips are formed to t into a bore" or hole B ofl predetermineddiameter.' Punched 'inwardly' rom'the escutcheo'n 5`are also a' pair' of ears 'which serve as a fulcrum" Supports for the pivot pinV I of'a handle member I I-I 2. This handle member' is' substantially U-shaped' and, extends through the bore B to provide inner andi `outer latch handles II and' I2;A respectively; by

which the latch is operated.`

The handle' member I'I2`. is. preferably' of t hoilcw construction, as` shown, andinany'event Vis centrally slotted or recessed to receive 'a'latch dog i3 which is pivoted in the handle member,v

as at' I4; and has `a hookedv endv I'ext'en'ding through a slot' I't'o releasa'blyengageA the keeper G'. The latch dog is further'provided with alug" or extension I!"whichprojects through a' slot I8 in the handle memberto' contactt an' abutmentv tongue I9 which. is preferably punched inwardly' from an outer escutcheon plate zll'securedtothev outer surface of 'the door'C by suitable means such as Vscrews 2'I. The h'olethus left inthe es'cut'cheon` 2t; by thepunching 'an'dbending' out of the abutmentlil, provides a recess 22 through which the' handle' l2 'projects and'is'of sufficient size to'perL mit oscillating action of the handle'member about" the pivot'center I 0'. Al spring' `23.' is arranged to exert constant pressure on the latch dog"I3,` and is formed, as shownin Fig. 4, with a slot' 24' to receive the 'adjacent' or pivoted end'of' the latch dog.n One end ofthe spring'j contacts" the latchr dog, as at' 25,' and the other' endiengages" the inner handle (I2)" surface, while the intermediate portion passes under andis held'infplace 'by the pivot' pin I4.' This springfserves thedouble purpose of holding the latch hook I 5in projected' position for rengagement"withthe keeper G, and; by pressing the extension I'I against the abutment i9, serves Vto hold thehandle member in normally ir'ioperaltive positionl since such actionA causes the `pivot connection I4 to urge the handle end I2 to the right, as seen in Figs; 1v and `2, about the pivot axis I0. l To install the latch it is preferableV to first mount the keeperv G at the de'sired'elevation'.and in clo'se proximity to the'inner'surface' of' the" door'when closed. The center' of th'e'ho1e"'B,'t'obe bored, is then marked' on' the' door at the proper 'predeterminedpositionwith respect to the keeper, whereupon an ordinary 'augenand bit may be employed to drill'the hole.' When this is done *theV escutchean plate' 5,whicli" carries "the handle member II-I2 and latch I3 as shown in Fig. 3, is properly located by the flanges 'I and 8, as above noted, the handle end I2 having first been projected through the bore, and this unit is then fastened in place by the screws 6.

The outer escutcheon plate 20 is then passed over the length of the handle I2 and the abutment tongue I9 is then inserted in the bore as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It may be noted that since the spring 23 is pressing the lug II toward the circumference of the bore it will yieldingly contact the tongue I9 and will hold it and the plate 20 in proper position while the attaching screws 2I are being secured.

It will thus be seen that I have not only developed an extremely simple form of latch, but one which can be accurately installed with a minimum number of tools and with a minimum amount of effort.

It will also be noted that this latch mechanism is particularly valuable from a practical point of view for the reason that it is self-ad- `instable Vto various door thicknesses and thus eliminates the necessity for providing several different sizes 'as has heretofore usually been necessary. Thus it will be seen that since the entire latch mechanism is mounted on the escutcheon 5, and 'the tongue I9 is in slidable contact with the lug Il the plate 20 can always be secured flush with the outer surface of the door by rst pushing the tongue I9 into its innermost position. The advantage so resulting from this design can readily be appreciated by considering Figs. 1 and. 2 wherein dierent door thicknesses are illustrated.

'While the operation and advantages of the latch as thus described are no doubt obvious, the following explanation may be made.

With' the latch fully and properly installed the spring-23 operates to hold the various parts in the positions shownin Fig. 1. If the person desiring to open the door is on the inside he pushes the handle I I, and if he is on the outside he pulls they handle I2. In either case the handle member IIe-I2 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, and this movement causes the latch dog pivot center I4 to move to the left. Since the lug I1 cannot ,so-move it acts as a fulorum and causes the hookY end of the dog to move to the right thus, freeing it from the keeper G. Thereupon the door can be swung to fully open position.

When the handle member is released the parts automatically resume their original positions, and

as the door is again'closed the latch dog will snap into place as will be evident. If it is desired to lock the latch this may be accomplished by a small locking lever 26 pivoted as at 21 to escutcheon 5, land adapted, when turned to engage adjacent parts of handle I I and latch I3, to prevent them from moving. Locks of this nature are well known in the art, one illustration being found in Olson Patent No. 2,311,686, issued February 23,

It' isunderstood that suitable modifications may be'made in the structure as discosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, vwhat I claim to be new and desire. to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A latchforoperation in a hole bored in a door at a point spaced from the edge thereof, comprising a handle member extending through the hole Aand, pivotally mounted for swinging movement about an axis disposed adjacent to the 4 inner surface of the door, a latch dog pivotally secured to a swingable part of the handle member at a point spaced substantially outwardly with respect to said first pivot axis and having a hook end extending inwardly and to a point beyond the inner surface of the door for engagement with a keeper.

2. A latch for operation in a hole bored in a door at a point spaced from the edge thereof, comprising an escutcheon secured upon the door surface about one end of the hole and having a projection for guiding engagement in one end of the hole, a generally U-shaped handle member pivoted to the escutcheon at a point adjacent the door surface on which the escutcheon is secured and having handles at both ends for manipulation at opposite sides of the door, a latch dog pivoted to a swingable part of the handle member at a point spaced from the pivot connection between the handle member and escutcheon and having a hook at its other end extending from the handle member for engagement with a keeper.

3. A door latch comprising a generally U -shaped handle member extending through an aperture in the door` with handle portions at inner and outer sides of the door, pivot means forming a vertical fulcrum for the handle member at a point adjacent the plane of the inner surface of the door, a latch dog pivoted to the handle member at a point spaced from said handle member fulcrum toward the outer side of the door, said latch dog extending inwardly beyond said handle member fulcrum and beyond the inner surface of 35 the door for engagement with a keeper, and spring means acting on the handle member and latch dog to hold the latter in releasable engagement with the keeper.

4. A door latch comprising a generally U- shaped handle member extending through an aperture in the door with handle portions at inner and outer sides of the door, pivot means forming a vertical fulcrum for the handle member at a point adjacent the plane of the inner surface of the door, a latch dog pivoted to the handle member at a point spaced from said fulcrum toward the outer side of the door, said latch dog extending inwardly beyond said handle member fulcrum and beyond the inner surface of the 50 door for engagement with a keeper, and spring means creating tension between the handle member and latch dog.

5. A door latch comprising a generally U- shaped handle member extending through an 55 aperture in ythedoor with handle portions at inner and outer sidesof the door, pivot means forming a vertical fulcrum for the handle member at a point adjacent the plane of the inner surface ofthe door, a latch dog pivoted to a swingable 60 Dart of the handle member at a point spaced from said fulcrum toward the outer side of the door, said'l'atch dog extending inwardly beyondsaid fulcrum and beyond the inner surface of the door for engagement'y with a keeper, and meansl for 65 moving the latch dog with respect to the handle member about .the second mentioned pivot when the handle member is actuated on its fulcrum.

6. A door latch comprising inner and outer y escutcheons adapted -to be secured on inner and 70 outer surfaces of a door, respectively, and about a recess therein, a handle member extending through both escutcheons and through said recess for operation at either side of the door, a ful- .crum connecting the handle'member to the inner escutcheon, a latch dog pivotally `connected to the handle member at a vpoint spacedfrom said fulcrum, and an abutment extendingfrom the outer escutcheon into the recess for contact With the latch dog to actuate the latter with respect to the handle member when the handle member is manually operated.

7. A door latch comprising inner and outer escutcheons adapted to be secured on inner and outer surfaces of a door, respectively, and about a recess therein, a, handle member extending through both escutcheons and through said recess for operation at either side of the door, a fulcrum connecting the handle member to the inner escutcheon, a. latch dog pivotally connected to the handle member at a point spaced from said fulcrum, and an abutment extending from the outer escutcheon into the recess for contact With the latch dog to actuate the latter with respect to the handle member when the handle member is manually operated, said abutment having sliding contact with the latch dog in a direction perpendicular to the inner escutcheon whereby the latch may be adjusted to doors of various thicknesses.

8. A door latch for a door having a cylindrical bore near its swinging edge, comprising a handle member extending through the bore for operation at either side of the door, mounting means for fulcruming the handle member about a vertical axis adjacent the inner end of the bore, a latch pivoted to the handle at a point adjacent the outer end of the bore, said latch extending inwardly beyond said mounting means for engagement with a keeper, an abutment member slidably inserted in the bore and for contact with the latch dog to release the latter from such keeper when the handle member is actuated on its fulcrum.

9. A door latch comprising a generally U- shaped handle extended through an aperture in the door for operation at either side thereof, means for fulcruming the handle for movement in a horizontal plane, a latch dog disposed within the handle and pivoted thereto at a point spaced from said fulcrum, means forming an abutment within the door aperture, and a lug projecting from the latch dog for engagement With said abutment to actuate the latch dog With respect to the handle member When the latter is manually actuated on its fulcrum.

10. A door latch comprising a generally U- shaped handle extended through an aperture in the door for operation at either side thereof, means for fulcruming the handle for movement in a horizontal plane, a latch dog disposed within the handle and pivoted thereto at a point spaced from said fulcrum, means forming an abutment within the door aperture, and a lug projecting from the latch dog for engagement with said abutment to actuate the latch dog with respect to the handle member when the latter is member having a slot through which said lug extends to contact the abutment.

11. A door latch comprising apertured plates adapted to be secured upon opposite surfaces of a door having a recess extending therethrough, a handle member extending through the plate apertures and door recess for operation at either side of the door, said handle member being pivotally mounted on one of said pla-tes, a latch dog pivoted to said handle member, and an abutment extending from the other of said plates into the door recess for operative engagement with the latch dog.

12. A door latch comprising apertured plates adapted to be secured upon opposite surfaces of a door having a recess extending therethrough, a handle member extending through the plate apertures and door recess for operation at either side of the door, said handle member being pivotally mounted on one of said plates, a latch dog pivoted to said handle member, and an abutment extending from the other of said plates into the door recess for operative engagement with the latch dog, said abutment being formed by a part of the plate cut and bent therefrom to provide the aperture in said plate.

13. A door latch comprising a handle member adapted to extend through a door recess for operation from either side of the door, an escutcheon secured upon one surface of the door and providing a fulcrum for the handle member, a latch dog pivoted to the handle member at a point spaced from the fulcrum, and a spring connected at one end to the handle member and at its other end to .the latch dog to place the latter under tension.

14. A door latch comprising a handle member adapted to extend through a door recess for operation irom either side of the doorran escutcheon secured upon one surface of the door and providing a fulcrum for the handle member, a latch dog pivoted to the handle member at a point spaced from the fulcrum, and a spring connected at one end to the handle member and at its other end to the latch dog to place the latter under tension, said spring also being operative to yieldably hold the handle member in predetermined position in the door recess.

15. A door latch comprising a handle member adapted to extend through a door recess for operation from either side of the door, an escutcheon secured upon one surface of the door and providing a fulcrum for the handle member, a latch dog pivoted-to the handle member at a point spaced from the fulcrum, and a spring connected at one end to the handle member and at its other end to .the latch dog to `place the latter under tension, said spring having contact with the pivot connecting the latch dog t0 the handle member.

J USTUS C. IRWIN. 

